2006 Explorer Delayed Shift

[nGoldenm]

Hi all,

First off I would like to thank all of you for such a good forum. I've spent the past few hours combing through threads on here and have found some very helpful information.

My mother has a 2WD 2006 Explorer with the V6 engine and auto transmission. I do not have the car here in front of me, and she does not know how or where to find any information on it, so please bear with me as I try to diagnose this problem from a distance.

I believe from what I've been reading on here it has the 5R55E transmission in it. These are the symptoms that she has given me:

• When shifting to reverse, it will sometimes (intermittent) have a delayed shift. When it does engage, it "clunks" and shifts very hard.
• The same thing happens when engaging drive as well.
• It will also sometimes (intermittent) flare when shifting gears. She does not know which gears this occurs in.

From reading on here, I have gathered that this is common problem. She took it to the stealer who charged her $120 to read the codes from the computer and told her that a "solenoid" needs to be replaced and that it would cost $1100 out the door to fix rolleyes. She does not have this kind of money, so I'm going to try and find a way to fix this issue as best as I can for cheaper.

It sounds to me like a pressure problem, but I know nothing about these transmissions (I've really only dealt with Dodge heavy duty transmissions). Here's what I've come up with so far:

• I read something on here about a low/reverse servo gasket and also a viton d-ring kit. Could this be a contributor? Where can I find information about how to fix it and where to buy the appropriate parts?
• I also read about the EPC solenoid. Could this also be a source of the problem?

If there is anything else I should look into, please let me know. Also, please tell me the order of importance of each thing. Due to cost, I may only be able to do a few of the things since as I mentioned she doesn't have a lot of money to throw at this thing. I want to concentrate my efforts on the most likely causes. Thanks a lot guys.

 

[jrford]

IN '06 they started to come with 6 speeds, but i'm not sure if that was only on the v8 or with the v6. If it is the 5speed then it would be a 5r55w/s (s is with AWD). My guess is you have the 5r55w.
Valve Body could also be it, but another common problem is the servo bores. The first can be done on the truck, the second problems it has be pulled and tore down to fix it. . .the servo bores leak and break down over time. Lots of write ups on these transmissions.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Do you know what the code numbers are? The solenoid blocks tend to act up around 60K miles. How many miles does it have? WWW.800700Tran.Com has the solenoid blocks. Did you check the fluid level?

 

[nGoldenm]

Welcome to this forum! Do you know what the code numbers are? The solenoid blocks tend to act up around 60K miles. How many miles does it have? WWW.800700Tran.Com has the solenoid blocks. Did you check the fluid level?

No, I do not know what the codes numbers are. The jerk that ripped her off only handed her a piece of paper that had "Needs shift solenoid" written on it. No other useful information.

It has 150,000 mostly highway miles on it. It was a company vehicle before she got it and was well taken care of. So for solenoid blocks, you mean the 4 shift solenoids on the valve body, right? I'm assuming I should go ahead and change the EPC solenoid if I'm in there anyway.

I have not been there in person to check anything. I don't even know how to check the fluid level in this thing. Apparently you have to have some special tool to do it, correct? And a pump to fill it through this same tool?

Thanks for your help. I'm a complete newbie with these transmissions.

EDIT: Nevermind about the EPC thing. I just found in a search that for the 5R55W that I've been told here is in her car has all of the solenoids located in the block. Replacing it replaces all of them. That helps tremendously. It also doesn't look like that hard of a job. Potentially very messy, but not hard.

So, if I replace the solenoid block, refill with Mercon V ATF, and change the filter, how good of a chance does that give me that it will at least lessen these problems (assuming that the fluid level is not low to begin with)?

I also found a thread that said just a standard 1/8" NPT 1/4" barbed hose fitting would work to pump the ATF back in. Is this correct? This seems much simpler than what I was thinking needed to be done.

 

[welle417]

No, I do not know what the codes numbers are. The jerk that ripped her off only handed her a piece of paper that had "Needs shift solenoid" written on it. No other useful information.

It has 150,000 mostly highway miles on it. It was a company vehicle before she got it and was well taken care of. So for solenoid blocks, you mean the 4 shift solenoids on the valve body, right? I'm assuming I should go ahead and change the EPC solenoid if I'm in there anyway.

I have not been there in person to check anything. I don't even know how to check the fluid level in this thing. Apparently you have to have some special tool to do it, correct? And a pump to fill it through this same tool?

Thanks for your help. I'm a complete newbie with these transmissions.

EDIT: Nevermind about the EPC thing. I just found in a search that for the 5R55W that I've been told here is in her car has all of the solenoids located in the block. Replacing it replaces all of them. That helps tremendously. It also doesn't look like that hard of a job. Potentially very messy, but not hard.

So, if I replace the solenoid block, refill with Mercon V ATF, and change the filter, how good of a chance does that give me that it will at least lessen these problems (assuming that the fluid level is not low to begin with)?

I also found a thread that said just a standard 1/8" NPT 1/4" barbed hose fitting would work to pump the ATF back in. Is this correct? This seems much simpler than what I was thinking needed to be done.

Explorers are much simpler than most people realize, hence their popularity... now i have only little experience with an 07 trans so im going to be very clear that most of this isn't fact; more or less experience-back-opinion

If they handed her a piece of paper that says needs solenoid, then thats what you do- your plan is solid and well founded- and in your pumping thinking im almost positive you're right on that too...

good luck with it all!